Federal agents and local law enforcement simultaneously raided homes across southeast Colorado on Wednesday as part of efforts to break up a major organization growing marijuana for distribution and sale out of state.

A Drug Enforcement Administration official said the agency was working with sheriff’s offices in El Paso, Pueblo, Crowley, Bent and Otero counties on some “big operations” that are linked to one encompassing investigation. Ten of 12 properties searched were rentals, officials said.

The official, who spoke to The Denver Post on the condition of anonymity because an investigation into the case is ongoing, said the operations are targeting marijuana being sent out of state — including Texas and Arkansas — in big volumes.

Another law enforcement source, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said multiple search warrants were being executed as part of a large marijuana distribution investigation.

Officials said more information could be released later on Wednesday. Investigators said more than 22,400 pounds of plants and marijuana products had been seized.

The export of marijuana grown in Colorado to other states was a chief concern of federal officials after it was first legalized. Since then, illegal “pirate” grows in homes and outdoors on federal lands have become a priority and concern for authorities.

Undersheriff Dave Gaskill, of the Otero County Sheriff’s Office, said Wednesday’s operations stemmed from an investigation that began in his jurisdiction several months ago.

“There were people detained,” Gaskill told The Post. “I don’t know how many.”

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that its SWAT officers were assisting the DEA on a search warrant, but did not elaborate.

Jacqueline Kirby, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman, said she could not speak further about the operation. She said she did not know what the DEA was looking for or if it was connected to any larger investigation.

“All I know is we are assisting in executing some search warrants,” Kirby said.

Gayle Perez, a spokeswoman for the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, said SWAT deputies were involved in an operation with the DEA, but she said she didn’t have further information.

Politics reporter. He has worked at The Denver Post since the summer of 2014, covering cops, courts, politics, environment, skiing and everything in between. He loves telling stories about Colorado's mountain towns and the Eastern Plains and wants to make sure our newspaper's great work extends into their communities.

What started off last spring as an effort by an Aurora Girl Scout troop to take on a social service project turned into passage Monday of Colorado’s first ban on smoking in a vehicle while children under 18 are inside.